Exerciser having foot pedals moving along an elliptical path

ABSTRACT

An exerciser includes an elongated base which has two aligned slide slots. A post is fixed on a front end portion of the base. A driving wheel is disposed rotatably on the front end portion of the base, and has a fixed rotating shaft. Two cranks are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the rotating shaft. Each of two inner links has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of the cranks and that is rotatable about the rotating shaft, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of the slide slots in the base. Two horizontally extending transverse pivot pins connect two pedals respectively and rotatably to the inner links. Each of two upright swing levers has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on a respective one of the posts. Each of two outer links has a front end that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of the swing levers, and a rear end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of the pedals. When the swing levers are swung by two hands of a user and when the pedals are depressed by two feet of the user, each of the pedals moves along an elliptical path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an exerciser, more particularly to an exerciser having foot pedals moving along an elliptical path.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional exerciser is shown to include an elongated base 2, a post 3, a driving wheel 5, two cranks 7, two pedals 9, and two links 8.

[0005] The base 2 has a front end portion and a rear end portion which is formed with two aligned guiding rails 6 that extend in a longitudinal direction of the base 2 and that are formed on two opposite sides of the base 2. The post 3 is fixed uprightly on the front end portion of the base 2, and has an upper portion formed with a handgrip member 4. The driving wheel 5 is disposed rotatably on the front end portion of the base 2, and has a fixed rotating shaft 501. The cranks 7 are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the rotating shaft 501. Each of the links 8 has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of the cranks 7 and that is rotatable about the rotating shaft 501, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of the guiding rails 6 of the base 2. Two pedals 9 are fixedly mounted on the intermediate portions of the links 8 such that when the pedals 9 are depressed alternately by two feet of the user, each of the pedals 9 moves along an elliptical path. However, because the pedals 9 are fixed on the links 8, when either of the pedals 9 moves to its front limit position, it forms a relatively large inclination angle with respect to the base 2, thereby causing the heels of the feet of the user to be lifted slightly upward in the arrow “a” direction in order to maintain the horizontal position of the feet. The act of lifting the heels of the user's feet relative to the pedals 9 can result in straining of muscles in the feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The object of this invention is to provide an elliptical motion exerciser having two pedals mounted rotatatably on two links of the exerciser in such a manner that the pedals always conform with positions of the feet of the user so as to avoid lifting of the heels of the feet relative to the pedals, thereby eliminating occurrence of the aforesaid drawback.

[0007] Accordingly, an exerciser of the present invention includes an elongated base which has two aligned slide slots that extend in a longitudinal direction and that are formed in two opposite sides of the base. A post is fixed on a front end portion of the base. A driving wheel is disposed rotatably on the front end portion of the base, and has a fixed rotating shaft. Two cranks are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the rotating shaft. Each of two inner links has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of the cranks and that is rotatable about the rotating shaft, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of the slide slots in the base. Two horizontal pivot pins extend through two pedals respectively so as to connect the latter rotatably to the inner links. Each of two upright swing levers has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on the post. Each of two outer links has a front end that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of the swing levers, and a rear end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of the pedals.

[0008] When the swing levers are swung by two hands of a user, and when the pedals are depressed by two feet of the user, each of the pedals moves along an elliptical path. Since the pedals are mounted rotatably on the inner links, they extend in a generally horizontal direction during descent and ascent thereof so as to conform with the feet of the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] These and other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a conventional exerciser, illustrating the position of a user's feet during pedaling exercising;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a preferred embodiment of an exerciser of the present invention, illustrating the position of a user's feet during pedaling exercising;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged partly fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating how a pedal is mounted on an inner link of the preferred embodiment;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a partly sectional view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating the interconnection between the pedal and the inner link of the preferred embodiment; and

[0015]FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating an unaltered position of the pedal during pedaling exercising.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, a preferred embodiment of an exerciser of this invention is shown to include an elongated base 10, a post 11, a driving wheel 12, two cranks 122, two inner links 14, two pedals 15, two horizontally extending transverse pivot pins 152, two upright swing levers 16, and two outer links 153.

[0017] As illustrated, the base 10, in the form of a support plank, has a front end portion 101 and a rear end portion 102 which is formed with two aligned slide slots 13 that extend in a longitudinal direction of the base 10 and that are formed in two opposite sides of the base 10.

[0018] The post 11 is fixed on the front end portion 101 of the base 10.

[0019] The driving wheel 12 is disposed rotatably on the front end portion 101 of the base 10, and has a fixed rotating shaft 121. Preferably, the post 11 includes two handgrip units with a panel provided therebetween for indicating a rotational speed of the driving wheel 12.

[0020] The cranks 122 are connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of the rotating shaft 121.

[0021] Each of the inner links 14 has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of the cranks 122 and that is rotatable about the rotating shaft 121, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of the slide slots 13 in the base 10.

[0022] The transverse pivot pins 152 connect the pedals 15 respectively and rotatably to the inner links 14.

[0023] Each of the upright swing levers 16 has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on the post 11.

[0024] Each of the outer links 153 has a front end (153F) that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of the swing levers 16, and a rear end (153R) that is connected fixedly to a respective one of the pedals 15 via the respective pivot pin 152. When the swing levers 16 are swung by two hands of a user, and when the pedals 15 are depressed by two feet of the user, each of the pedals 15 moves along an elliptical path.

[0025] Each of the inner links 14 is preferably provided with a fixed pedal-supporting seat 141 at an intermediate portion thereof. Each of the seats 141 is formed with a sleeve 142 that is disposed rotatably around a respective one of the pivot pins 152. In this preferred embodiment, the pivot pins 152 are mounted respectively and fixedly on the pedals 15. Each of the pivot pins 152 has a first end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of the pedals 15 by a fixed mounting bracket 157, and a second end, which has an end surface that is formed with a threaded hole (152H) (see FIG. 5). Each of two rigid washers 155 is disposed to abut against an end surface of a respective one of the sleeves 142. Two bolts 154 are inserted through the washers 155 to engage the threaded holes in the pivot pins 152, as best shown in FIG. 5, in such a manner that the sleeves 142 are rotatable around the pivot pins 152. Under this condition, the pivot pins 152 consequently permit upward and downward swivel action of the pedals 15 on the seats 141.

[0026] During pedaling exercising, the pedals 15 always extend in a horizontal direction so as to conform with the natural position of the user's feet, regardless of descent or ascent, as best shown in FIG. 6.

[0027] With this invention thus explained, it is apparent that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention. It is therefore intended that this invention be limited only as indicated by the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. An exerciser comprising: an elongated base having a front end portion and a rear end portion which is formed with two aligned slide slots that extend in a longitudinal direction of said base and that are formed in two opposite sides of said base; a post fixed on said front end portion of said base; a driving wheel disposed rotatably on said front end portion of said base, and having a fixed rotating shaft; two cranks connected respectively and fixedly to two ends of said rotating shaft; two inner links, each of which has a front end that is connected rotatably to a respective one of said cranks and that is rotatable about said rotating shaft, and a rear end that is received slidably within a respective one of said slide slots in said base; two pedals; two horizontally extending transverse pivot pins for connecting said pedals respectively and rotatably to said inner links; two upright swing levers, each of which has an intermediate portion that is mounted pivotally on said post; and two outer links, each of which has a front end that is connected pivotally to a lower end of a respective one of said swing levers, and a rear end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of said pedals; whereby, when said swing levers are swung by two hands of a user and when said pedals are depressed by two feet of the user, each of said pedals moves along an elliptical path.
 2. The exerciser as defined in claim 1 , wherein each of said inner links has a fixed pedal-supporting seat, which is formed with a sleeve that is disposed rotatably around a respective one of said pivot pins, said pivot pins being mounted respectively and fixedly on said pedals.
 3. The exerciser as defined in claim 2 , wherein each of said pivot pins has a first end that is connected fixedly to a respective one of said pedals, and a second end having an end surface that is formed with a threaded hole, said exerciser further including two rigid washers each of which abuts against an end surface of a respective one of said sleeves, and two bolts that extend respectively through said washers to engage said threaded holes in said pivot pins in such a manner that said sleeves are rotatable around said pivot pins. 